Hoodia's therapeutic uses
Hoodia is a plant native to the Kalahari Desert in South Africa and Namibia, often associated with potential therapeutic uses, particularly for weight loss and appetite suppression. Traditionally, it is claimed that the San people utilized hoodia to combat hunger during long journeys; however, this historical use has not been independently verified. The plant gained popularity as a weight loss supplement around 2002, but evidence supporting its efficacy remains inconclusive. Some studies suggest that hoodia may help reduce appetite, with one small study indicating a reduction in calorie intake among participants; yet, this research has not been widely published or scrutinized. Other studies have shown no significant weight loss benefits compared to placebos. While hoodia also displays preliminary antidiabetic properties, further investigation is necessary to confirm its effectiveness in managing diabetes. Despite the absence of known safety issues, the lack of comprehensive studies raises concerns about its use, especially for vulnerable populations like pregnant women or those with existing health conditions. Overall, while hoodia is marketed for weight management, the scientific community awaits more rigorous research to substantiate these claims.
Subject Terms
Hoodia's therapeutic uses
- DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
- PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Weight loss, appetite suppression, antidiabetic
Overview
Hoodia is a cactus-like plant that grows in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa and Namibia. Advertising literature associated with hoodia claims that the herb has been used for thousands of years by the San people (commonly, though inappropriately, known as Bushmen) to stave off hunger and thirst during long desert treks. However, this claim has not been independently verified. Other sources state that the San rarely used the plant as a disfavored food, consumed only when better-tasting food sources were not available.
Therapeutic Dosages
A typical dose of hoodia is 400 milligrams twice daily.
Therapeutic Uses
Around 2002, hoodia began to be heavily marketed as a weight loss supplement. However, there is no reliable evidence that it offers any benefit. While some animal and laboratory studies suggest hoodia may aid weight loss, human studies have shown inconsistent results.
The manufacturer Phytopharm cites a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of eighteen overweight people in the United Kingdom who were given either hoodia or placebo for fifteen days. Reportedly, people in the hoodia group consumed one thousand fewer calories daily than those in the placebo group despite remaining sedentary. If true, this would have an enormous effect. However, this study was small, the manufacturer performed it without outside supervision, and it has never been published. An additional fifteen-day study following forty-nine women saw no significant difference in weight loss between those taking hoodia and those in the control group. Only if a larger, independent study verifies these results will it be possible to say that meaningful evidence supports the use of hoodia for weight loss.
Published evidence on hoodia is far too preliminary to be relied upon. One animal study found that when the presumed active ingredient of hoodia was injected into the brains of rats, their appetite decreased. The authors conclude from their research that hoodia may work by affecting metabolism in the brain. However, injections in the brain are quite different from oral consumption and could simply suppress appetite by being traumatic. Potentially more meaningful animal studies compared hoodia against a placebo when fed to rats. Supposedly, benefits were again seen. However, these studies were published only in abstract form, and therefore the results cannot be independently evaluated. In any case, numerous products cause weight loss in animals but do not prove to be useful treatments when tested in people.
The purported active ingredient of hoodia is a substance christened P57. For a time, the drug company Pfizer investigated P57 as a possible weight-loss drug, but the company ceased research in 2003. Two different molecules found in hoodia may also work to regulate hunger by promoting cholecystokinin secretion. Further, while hoodia has exhibited some antidiabetic properties in its ability to manage blood sugar levels, this preliminary evidence is not enough to confirm hoodia may be helpful in diabetes management.
Safety Issues
There are no known safety issues regarding hoodia. However, no meaningful independent studies of hoodia’s safety have been reported. Safety in pregnant or nursing women, young children, or people with liver or kidney disease has not been established.
Bibliography
"Hoodia." National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Aug. 2020, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hoodia. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.
"Hoodia: Usefulness and Safety." National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Aug. 2020, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hoodia. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.
Kubala, Jillian, et al. "12 Over-The-Counter Appetite Suppressants Reviewed." Healthline, 25 Sept. 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/appetite-suppressants. Accessed 23 Sept. 2024.
MacLean, D. B., and L. G. Luo. "Increased ATP Content/Production in the Hypothalamus May Be a Signal for Energy-Sensing of Satiety: Studies of the Anorectic Mechanism of a Plant Steroidal Glycoside." Brain Research, vol. 1020, 2004, pp. 1-11.